?  Notes  on  the  Dasheen  and  Chayote.  503 
the  main  axis  bundles  numerous  branch  bundles  emanate  at  various 
levels,  which  course  out  into  the  lateral  cormels. 
Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  in  the  form  of  raphides  are  found  in 
numerous  cells  of  the  central  matrix  (Fig.  4). 
Uses  of  the  Dasheen. — The  portion  of  the  plant  suitable  for  diet 
are  the  conns  with  their  lateral  cormels  and  the  aerial  shoots.  The 
former  are  not  intended  to  replace  the  white  or  the  sweet  potato,  nor 
the  latter,  the  asparagus,  but  rather  to  augment  the  comparatively 
small  number  of  starchy  vegetables  now  in  use  in  our  country.  The 
underground  parts  which  are  sold  as  "  dasheens  "  in  some  of  our 
Fig.  5.    Starch  grains  from  parenchyma  cells  of  the  Trinidad  Dasheen  corm 
and  cormels  (highly  magnified) . 
markets  contain  about  50  per  cent,  more  protein  and  50  per  cent, 
more  starch  and  sugars  than  the  potato  tuber.  The  average  of  ten 
analyses  of  these  portions  made  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
is  as  follows : 
Per  Cent. 
Solids   37.235 
Ash   1.3 
Starch    26.097 
Soluble  sugar   1.75 
Ether  extract   157 
Crude  fiber   71 
Proteids    3.03 
Pentosans    1.24 
The  conns  and  cormels  are  employed  in  the  same  manner  and 
in  quite  as  many  ways  as  the  white  potato.  They  may  be  served 
baked,  mashed,  scalloped,  stuffed,  cooked  with  grated  cheese,  and 
"  French "  or  "  German  "  fried.  The  seasoning  is  similar  to  that 
employed  for  the  white  potato.    When  baked  or  boiled,  the  interior 
